Porcine Forebrain Vacuolization Associated with Wasting in Pigs : A Novel Pathological Outcome Associated with Vitamin-Mineral Deficiency?

The term wasting is a clinical name describing a physical condition characterized by growth retardation, usually of multifactorial origin. The present study describes an apparently new condition of pigs characterized clinically by wasting and pathologically by vacuolization of the brain. During 2016-2018, animals from eight farms were weaned in good body condition, and after 1-2 weeks, they started losing weight. To investigate potential causes of this condition, apparently sick and healthy pigs from each herd of eight affected farms were studied by means of histopathology, transmission electron microscopy and detection of usual infectious agents. Histopathologically, the most consistent lesion was neuropil vacuolization of the prosencephalon, mainly located in the thalamic nuclei and in the transition between the white and grey matter of the neocortex. Electron microscopy of some of these sick animals showed preserved axons, with dilated myelin sheaths (interpreted as edema of myelin sheath). The literature suggests this lesion type is linked to congenital or metabolic (toxic/deficiency) scenarios. The present case was probably a vitamin/mineral deficiency since supplementation with nutritional complexes solved the problem. The term wasting refers to a clinical sign used to describe a physical condition characterized by growth retardation, usually of multifactorial origin. The objective of the present study was to describe for the first time a pathological process characterized by forebrain neuropil vacuolization in pigs showing wasting without conspicuous neurological signs. To characterize the lesions pathologically, affected and non-affected pigs from eight of these farms were investigated. Histologically, the most consistent lesion was neuropil vacuolization of the prosencephalon, mainly located in the thalamic nuclei and in the transition between the white and grey matter of the neocortex (40/56 in sick and 4/30 in healthy pigs). In the most severe cases, the vacuolation also involved the midbrain, cerebellar nuclei and, to a lesser extent, the medulla oblongata. Vacuolization of the forebrain was associated with pigs experiencing marked emaciation and growth retardation. Although the specific cause of the present case remained unknown, the preventive use of multivitamin and mineral complexes in drinking water ameliorated the condition, strongly suggesting a metabolic origin of the observed condition.